SHILLONG, Dec 8 - One of the most important and colourful festivals of the Khasi community, the Nongkrem dance, was today celebrated with pomp and gaiety at the cultural centre of the Khasi community at Smit, 20 km from here.
The five-day long religious festival of the Khasis is performed as a thanksgiving to Goddess Ka Blei Synshar, for a bumper harvest and to ward off evil. Traditionally, the Syiem of Khyrim hosts the Nongkrem dance. As part of the festival, the Syiem along with the high priest performs the Pemblang ceremony. First he offers oblation to Lei Shyllong (God of Shyllong peak) and later sacrifices a cock.
After the religious part of the festival is over Nongkrem dance ensues. The dance takes place before the Iing Sad (thatched palace). Young women in colourful and exotic silk dresses and decked in ornaments of gold, silver and wearing a silver crown participated in the dance. Young men wearing silk dhoti, waistcoat and plumed turban and also decked with ornaments joined the women in the dance.
During the dance there is an atmosphere of a carnival in the area. Thousands of people come to witness the festival and villagers from far-flung areas also set up stalls to sell their produces.